Maine makes testing available to anyone who might have virus

By Patrick Whittle, Associated Press

Monday

May 18, 2020 at 4:14 PM

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine has gotten rid of a testing prioritization system and is now letting health care providers test anyone suspected of having the new coronavirus, state officials said Monday.

Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, said the state's increase in testing capacity means the prioritization system is no longer needed. Mills called the change "a welcome step forward for Maine," which has had a virus caseload lower than much of the Northeast, but had also been held back by lack of access to testing.

"Because of this expanded capacity, health care providers in Maine will now be able to get results quickly for a lot more patients, including individuals who might not be exhibiting symptoms but who had close contact with confirmed cases," said Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

The prioritization system was a tiered system that Maine and other states used because of limited supply of tests. The system made testing more readily available to high-risk individuals.

Mills said the state still needs to further increase its testing capacity.

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In other news related to the virus in Maine:

Restaurants reopen

Hungry Mainers can eat at restaurants and have a seat in 12 of the state's 16 counties, where restaurants were allowed to reopen Monday to dine-in customers.

Reopening dates for restaurants were moved up from June 1 in counties that have had fewer cases of the coronavirus. Those restaurants that are reopening have limited seating to ensure social distancing can be maintained and have to take extra steps when it comes to sanitizing.

Some restaurants said they would give customers the option of using plastic utensils and plastic or paper drinking cups.

Remote camps as well as sporting camps, which provide access to wilderness activities such as hunting or fishing, were also allowed to open Monday to Maine residents, along with out-of-state visitors who have completed a 14-day quarantine.

The 14-day quarantine for out-of-state visitors has been a source of frustration for Maine's tourism industry. Mills has said the state is looking at alternatives.

More cases

Maine CDC reported 26 new cases of the virus and an additional death. There have been 1,713 cases of the virus, including 1,053 who have fully recovered, 223 who have been hospitalized at some point during their illness and 71 deaths in the state.

Among residents of York County, there have been 302 cases, including 204 who have fully recovered, 52 who have been hospitalized at some point during their illness and eight deaths.

For most people, the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness including pneumonia, or death. The vast majority of people recover.

First responders

The U.S. Senate passed a proposal co-sponsored by Republican Sen. Susan Collins that seeks to ensure quick access to survivor benefits for families of first responders who lose their lives to the virus.

Collins' office said the law change would clarify "certification requirements for survivor benefits under the Public Safety Officers Benefits Program to account for the unique challenges presented by the pandemic."

The proposal was headed to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Associated Press writer David Sharp and Seacoast Media Group staff contributed to this report.

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